Shirley Jo Gann Knuth

Shirley Jo Gann was born at Fort Sill in Lawson, Oklahoma on December 20, 1950 to Clyde and Mary Gann.
She grew up in Wichita as the first of seven children-Jerry, Russell, Donna, Les, Marilyn, and Carolyn. On November 7, 1970, Shirley married her sweetheart, Wayne Knuth. They shared 36 years together before his passing in 2007. Together, they proudly raised four children: Shaun Knuth and his wife, Stephanie, of Rose Hill, Elizabeth Thornton and her husband, Gilbert, of Mulvane, Pamela Williams and her husband, Jeremy, of Gardner, and Trace Knuth and his wife, Jessica, of Emporia, twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Throughout her adult life, she never met a stranger and enjoyed working in retail and customer service. However, her favorite job and pastime was being a mother and a grandma-showering all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in as much love as she had to offer.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; her parents; her brother, Russell; and her granddaughter, Emily.
A visitation for friends and family will be held at Smith Mortuary at 501 SE Louis Dr. in Mulvane, Kansas from 5:00pm - 7:00pm on Thursday April 23, 2026.
Funeral service will be at 10:00am on Friday, April 24. Burial at 3:00pm at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia, Kansas.